Plastic diamonds - Marjorie's backstory.

Chapter 26

Marjorie looked at her mum. She was stood there with red puffy eyes, she clearly had been crying. She was used to seeing her mother wearing white clothing, however she was stood in all black in front of her. She was confused, Marjorie opened her mouth to speak but she couldn't find the words, she had so many questions. Why was she here? Why is she crying? How did she find her house?

Before Marjorie could get a word in, her mother spoke up. "Marjorie, my darling." She looked up and her and softly smiled. "I came here to apologise."

Marjorie was taken aback, she raised her eyebrow. Apologise? She thought. Her mother had never once been so apologetic towards her own daughter. "What?" Was the only word Marjorie could get out. She felt a pit of anxiety for her mother, almost feeling bad for her.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." She started. "After hearing everything you said a few weeks ago, I took some time to myself, to think." She said in between small sniffles. To Marjorie, it sounded like it was almost an act, like she had put this entire thing on for pity, but still, she stood there and listened. "You're my only daughter, and to hear the damage I have caused you over these years honestly made me sick."

Marjorie stood there in shock hearing these words come out of her mother's mouth. She never thought she'd see her again after her drunken antics, and yet here she is. She didn't say anything, she just stood there waiting for her mother to continue. "Marjorie.." She held out her hands, which Marjorie subconsciously took. "Please, accept my apology."

Marjorie couldn't speak, it was like she was casted under a spell, almost hypnotised. Her mother's smile grew as Marjorie took her hands, but it wasn't a soft genuine smile, it was more of an evil grin. She felt like she couldn't move, she felt trapped and felt like she had no choice but to forgive her. Just as Marjorie was about to speak, she was snapped out of everything when she heard a faint voice call out to her.

"Marjorie?" The soft voice echoed through the empty home. She quickly took her hands out of her mother's and leaned back. She then saw Autumn walking towards her. "You've been inside for ages, who's at the door?" She questioned, but she quickly got her answer when she took a look for herself. Autumn quickly looked at Marjorie's fearful yet shocked expression, she then looked Marjorie's mother up and down. "I need to speak to Marjorie. You can stay here, or go." She said bluntly to her mother, she then grabbed the top of Marjorie's arm and pulled her into the living room.

"Autumn I-" Marjorie finally managed to her words out, but Autumn quickly cut across her. "What are you doing, Marjorie?"

She was stunned, she couldn't answer that question, she didn't know what she was doing either. "Why is she here?"

"She said she came here to apologise." Marjorie frowned. "And, I don't know.. I just thought to, you know, hear her out?"

Autumn quietly scoffed. "Marjorie, please listen to me." She said, grabbing Marjorie's full attention. "She doesn't feel bad. She's not apologising to you, she's apologising to herself. I mean, has she ever once felt bad for you in your life?" Marjorie faintly shook her head. "Exactly. She feels sorry for herself that she now has to suffer the consequences of her own actions. Do not let this woman guilt trip you into accepting an apology that's only going to benefit her."

Marjorie stayed silent, she took in everything Autumn was saying, and she was right. This woman didn't care about Marjorie, she only cared about money, publicity and herself. "You're strong, Marjorie." Autumn continued. "And you have come so far, and we are all so proud of you. You do not need her anymore, so please, go back out there and stand up for yourself."

Marjorie smiled. She realised that Autumn did genuinely care about her, and she had been one of the only people who had cared. So she nodded, agreeing in her head that everything Autumn said was right. Autumn gave Marjorie's arm and gentle squeeze and then walked into the kitchen. Marjorie then walked back to the front door to face her mother one last time.

Marjorie's mum looked up and her and smiled, she wiped away her own tears. "Any thoughts on forgiving me? My gorgeous daughter."

Marjorie smiled at her, which caused her to smile back even more. "I'll tell you what I think, Amanda."

She raised her eyebrow, confused on why she was suddenly being called by her first name, but she let Marjorie speak. "I ain't falling for these crocodile tears anymore, so you can cut that act." Marjorie started, dropping her smile. "I appreciate that you have took into account on how much you have hurt me, however I don't, and will never accept your apology."

Amanda looked offended, already giving away that everything was just an act. "You aren't sorry, and you will never be sorry for how you treated me. You watched me cry as kid, as you tore me down and blamed everything on me, just to make yourself better. You don't feel sorry for me, you only feel sorry for yourself that you didn't get the life you think you deserve."

Amanda was caught completely off guard, she took a step back. "How dare you speak to your own mother like that?" She slightly raised her voice.

"And how dare you treat your only daughter the way you did!" Marjorie raised her voice back louder. "I am happy. And I am so much better off without you and that family. You were so wrong about me, I'm in love, I have friends, I have people that I would consider a second family, I'm living the life that you so clearly never expected me to have."

These words only angered Amanda more, but Marjorie never let her have the chance to speak. "Now, I am going to go back inside and enjoy the rest of my night with the family I chose. As you can probably tell, i'm moving to a different house with the man who has shown me more love than you ever will. And you." She pointed at her mother. "You are never ever welcome on our doorstep, understood?"

Amanda was surprised with Marjorie's comeback. As a child, she would always fall for her fake tears and sadness. Marjorie truly had changed. Amanda shook her head in disbelief, but she didn't want to fight a battle she knew she would never win. So she walked off, agreeing in her head to let her daughter live, to finally leave her alone and let her live the life she so clearly has always wanted.

A smirk appeared on Marjorie's face as she watched her slowly walk away from her doorstep. Even though she had confronted everyone about her family, this felt like the final part of closure to her, and she was proud of herself. She slowly shut the door and let out a breath she never knew she was holding. She looked to her side and saw Autumn standing there, a smile appearing on her face. "That's my girl."

Marjorie softly giggled as she watched Autumn walk back outside to the others. There was always going to be someone in Marjorie's corner making sure she was making the right decision in her life. Everything was going to be okay.

(Ahhhh, next chapter is the last chapter 🥲)